Your Network Folder (or Home Directory)


Each user at Emma Willard has a network folder, a folder on a file server that is yours alone. Other users can't see what is stored in your folder.
  • On PCs the folder is available under My Computer as the H: Drive.
  • On Macs, you need to access your network folder via Connect to Server on the Finder's Go menu.

Public Folders


On each of our file servers (students, bdc207, and admin-1), we put aside a large space for sharing files. The folder is called Public.
  • On PCs the folder is available under my Computer as the P: Drive.
  • On Macs, you need to access your network folder via Connect to Server on the Finder's Go menu.

Group Folders


Groups may request a folder on the students server under the top level folder Groups. These folders are tailored to the group's needs. For example, they may be set up to be readable by everybody, but only writeable by group members or they might be set up to be completely private.

Strategies for Working at Home or Off-line


FTP


Your personal files and departmental files are available from off-campus via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). To use FTP, install an FTP program on your computer.

PC users can download Filezilla for free.

Mac users can use Fetch. We have a site license for it.

Synchonization


PC users may choose to turn on file synchonization, a feature built into Windows XP. Read how here.

What is synchonization? The idea is that your laptop maintains a copy of all the files in your network folder. When you are on campus and plugged into the network, the network copy of the file is being updated. When are offline, the local copy of the same file is being updated. When you log in and log out (or when you force it), the local copies and network copies are synchronized (made identical).

VPN


PC users may also choose to connect to our network using VPN. This allows you to join our network from off-campus. While connected by VPN you will be able to access any school resources, such as your network files, directly.